Markey, Lynch add to buzz as local Democrats hold caucuses

By Evan Lips, elips@lowellsun.com

Updated:
02/24/2013 06:40:56 AM EST

Warren Carey, chairman of the Tewksbury Democratic Committee, speaks during the committee's caucus Saturday. He said it was still too early to gauge which candidate, U.S. Rep. Edward Markey or U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, might have more support in the race to succeed former U.S. Sen. John Kerry. SUN / ASHLEY GREEN

As Democrats in nearly every Merrimack Valley community held their respective caucuses Saturday, an exercise to pick delegates for July's state Democratic Party nominating convention, there was buzz in the air as to whether to go North Shore or South Shore, Malden or South Boston, Edward Markey or Stephen Lynch.

In a little less than two months, we will know whether Malden's U.S. congressman, Markey, or South Boston's, Lynch, will be the Democratic candidate selected to try and succeed former U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

In Lowell, Centralville's East End Social Club attracted a modest crowd of about 40 residents Saturday morning as signature gatherers for both candidates greeted attendees at the door. Kim Burleigh, a recording secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Engineers Local 2321, was busy gathering signatures for Lynch, but said it's "never bad to have two good choices."

Burleigh said her union roots fit in line with Lynch's blue-collar background. Lynch, a South Boston native raised in the neighborhood's Old Colony Housing Project, is noted for being elected at age 30 to the executive board of the Iron Workers Local 7 union.

"He's been where I've been," Burleigh said, adding that she's seeing strong support building for Lynch in Greater Lowell.

The South Lowell resident recalled his days growing up in Medford and how in 1978 he worked on the campaign of Markey's brother John. Sweeney said he knew the Markeys through a high school friend.

In a similar parallel to the current race brewing, 1978 saw the late Lowellian U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas vacate his 5th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in order to make his successful run for Senate.

John Markey finished fourth that year in his run for Tsongas' old seat and Sweeney said he's since kept an eye on Ed Markey's progress in the U.S. House ever since.

Sweeney moved to Lowell 38 years ago. One year after Sweeney moved to the Merrimack Valley, Ed Markey would win and later maintain his current seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, making him the longest-serving member of New England's House delegation.

Sweeney said he thinks Lowell might be split right down the middle when it comes to Lynch and Markey. Democratic Lowell state Rep. David Nangle agreed. Nangle, who supports Lynch, said one of the South Boston candidate's strengths in the Merrimack Valley is his blue-collar roots.

"He's so well known in his home community because he's always there," said Nangle.

Fellow Democratic state Rep. Tom Golden, whose district includes Lowell and parts of Chelmsford, is also supporting Lynch, as does former Lowell state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos.

In Tewksbury, Democratic Committee Chairman Warren Carey said it was still too early to gauge which candidate might have more support. Carey, who presided over Tewksbury's caucus on Saturday, said the topic of the upcoming primary was only mentioned in passing during his program.

"I feel when it's an inter-party thing, it's hard to get involved before it takes place," he said, noting that both camps are still in the process of gathering enough signatures to get on the ballot. "We did mention it a little, but it's too early right now."

In Littleton, Acton state Sen. Jamie Eldridge spoke Saturday in front of that community's Democratic caucus and said he'd be backing Markey. Eldridge praised Markey for his work on climate change and other environmental issues, while calling him a "thoughtful, progressive lawmaker who can help close corporate tax loopholes and cut sales tax."

The caucus drew about 15 residents.

Democratic State Committee member Kate Donahue asked attendees to raise their hand if they supported Markey, and after every resident raised a hand, she warned that the support in the room would not necessarily translate to the rest of Littleton.

"It's a short campaign season and we really need to get out there and work," she said.

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